Sunday, January 1, 2017

The Year of the Lord's Favor

Pastor prefaced his sermon with a review of 2016. We laughed. Then he gave this advice to the Millennials: The Builders and the Boomers already think you sit around and do nothing. Stop making and posting videos that prove their point.

In the Book of Leviticus we read that every fiftieth year was the Year of Jubilee. Jubilee was a reset in which debts were cancelled, servants were released and the land went back to its original owners.

In Isaiah 61 we read the promise of the coming Christ in which as in years past we had Jubilee, upon His coming we will see The Year of the Lord's Favor. Then turning to the scripture lesson we find Jesus in the assembly in his home town being handed the scriptures from which he reads the passage from Isaiah and reveals that the Year of the Lord's Favor has come. The King of Israel is also the Head of the Human Race! We are living in the Year of the Lord's Favor.

We are called to join in on Christ's mission by living out the Year of the Lord's Favor.-----Face 2017 knowing the favor of God is on your life. (This is not a prosperity gospel proclaiming that you will be rich in material things and free from problems.)
-----Start thinking about His mission more than our own. In this we will attain His favor.

Pastor proclaimed that. . .

-----This will be a year of divine Acceptance. Acts 10:34,35 asserts that God does not show favoritism, but accepts those who do right.

-----This will be a year of divine Anointing. God wants you to be a presence in 2017.The anointing: God places his hand upon you to a purpose.-----This will be a year of divine Authority. In Acts chapter one we are told that we shall receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon us.The power enables us to live a victorious life; to live above the things that used to keep us down.

Living on our own is a restricted life; with God we have unlimited possibilities.

*Jesus is right for whatever is wrong.*

When the Holy Spirit dwells within you, people will see and want to see Jesus.